On August 31, 2007 Guiyang, the capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, was dubbed as China's Summer Tourist Resort City by the Meteorological Society.
Experts from the China Meteorological Administration and the Meteorological Society researched and evaluated summer tourism, industries and city construction in the city of Guiyang. They also studied the city's climate, human dwellings and tourist population. After a comprehensive assessment Guiyang received the award.
On Friday the director of the China Meteorological Administration, Qin Dahe, presented the award to the city via Yuan Zhou, the mayor of Guiyang.
Guiyang has gradually entered into the tourist limelight. It is currently considered the best place to go to escape summer heat. In 2006 Guiyang had the distinction of being chosen as the best summer destination in China.
The city is situated on the Yunnan-Guizhou highlands but located at a low geographical latitude. Guiyang's average temperature between June and August is approximately 23 degrees centigrade.
Aside from its comfortable weather conditions, Guiyang lays claims to its unique geology called karst; the area is rich in limestone formations. Colorful ethnic cultures also abound in the region.
Guizhou's topography features a myriad of developed karstic landscapes. The irregular limestone terrain features numerous waterfalls, stone forests, caves, ravines, pinnacles, subterranean lakes and hot springs. The magnificent and thundering Huangguoshu Waterfall, the glittering Hongfeng Lake, and the outcroppings of the Fanjingshan Mountain are a few of the fantastic highlights created by nature.
Guizhou is home to more than 10 diverse ethnic groups, most of who live in the southeast realm bordering on Guangxi and Hunan Provinces. Their pristine culture, traditions and lifestyle are well preserved and displayed. These ethnic people still live in their original habitats and practice their centuries-old customs, adhering to their simple life.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Zhou Jing September 1, 2007)
